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Medical personnel are being protected from coronavirus exposure through the use of a contact-free, continuous patient monitoring device.

By United with Israel Staff

Israel’s Sheba Medical Center is limiting COVID-19 (coronavirus) exposure of its medical personnel through the use of EarlySense, a contact-free, continuous monitoring device used with isolated patients, it announced on Monday. The company is located in Ramat Gan in central Israel.

“We are doing our utmost to provide patients with quality care and comfort while minimizing the danger COVID-19 poses to our health practitioners and to the public,” said Sheba Medical Center’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Eyal Zimlichman in a statement. “We are grateful to EarlySense for answering an open call from our ARC innovation center for technologies and providing its contact-free patient monitoring system. Together with additional protocols, we are well-prepared to care for our isolated COVID-19 patients.”

The device monitors respiratory rate, heart rate and movement without the need to be in personal contact with a patient. It offers early detection of any clinical changes with direct contact so that urgent care can be administered more rapidly. This reduces code blue events due to cardiac or respiratory arrest, preventable ICU transfers, patient falls, pressure ulcers, and hospital readmissions.

The device uses a sensor placed under the patient’s mattress and provides continuous real-time data to a display outside a patient’s room. Nothing touches the patient’s body, including wires, making care more comfortable as well as reducing the chance of spreading coronavirus, which can live on surfaces for as long as 12 hours.

“As the coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, health facilities are challenged to effectively care for patients while also keeping staff safe from exposure,” said Matt Johnson, EarlySense CEO. “Contact-free continuous monitoring addresses this balance, providing clinical staff with a full picture of patient health while effectively minimizing the need to enter isolated areas.”

According to the company, to date EarlySense technology is installed in more than 40,000 patient beds in hospitals and post acute care facilities.

“We are prepared to help hospitals and skilled nursing facilities replicate what we’ve done with Sheba, for the care and safety of both patients and staff,” Johnson added.